MY BABY IS NO LONGER A BABY - IT'S OFFICIAL!!!

Today made me happy and sad all at the same time.  Happy because Asha is growing into such a smart, independent and charming little girl, but sad because she is no longer a baby. 

It seems like as soon as she turned two, a lot of the characteristics that made her my "baby" went out instantly like the candles on her cake (cheesy I know).  And although I am absolutely thrilled of the wonderful little person she is becoming, I don't want her to grow up... I am selfish I guess and I want her to stay a baby forever (minus the terrible two part of course).  

We have decided that Asha will be our only babe and so it's difficult to think I will not get to see each of these stages again.  I often feel like she is growing up TOO fast and that I cannot keep up.

So I take her down stairs for her nap today.  And you really have to get a sense of what the usual nap time routine is like for Asha.  Normally I warm her up a "magic bag" in the microwave; the bag consists of grains and scents that calm her and make her all warm and cozy.  We get her special blanket and I warm up her bottle (she calls it tea-tea which is a St. Vincent thing).  Then I take her to her room, turn on some soft lullaby music, cuddle her on my lap while I give her tea-tea and then put her in her bed.  I then sing the wheels on the bus, pat or rub her back a little, say goodnight and I love you's, leave and blow a kiss from outside of her room.  Then I close the door and she goes to sleep.  The whole routine usually takes about 15 minutes.  But... this is what it was like today:

I warmed up her magic bag, got her blanket and her bottle, took her down stairs and turned on the music.  Then when I went to sit by her bed to give her bottle, she threw her blanket down onto the bed with her warm bag and covered herself up with a blanket.  I then tried to give Asha her bottle and she said, "No Mama, Asha's a big girl, no tea-tea."  So I went to rub her back and say my goodnight's, sweet dreams and I love you's and she said, "Bye Mom".  Yep, that's what she said!  Bye Mom.  Guess I'm going to have to come to terms with this sooner than later. 

See, I told you all.  My baby is no longer a baby - it's official!!!